Richard Chamberlain, TV’s Dr. Kildare, ‘Shogun,’ ‘Thorn Birds’ Star, Dies at 90

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90-year-old Richard Chamberlain, a heartthrob in the ’60s TV series “Dr. Kildare” who later reigned supreme in miniseries hits like “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” has passed away.

This version retains the essential information while using simpler language to make it easier to understand for a wider audience.

It was confirmed to EbMaster that Chamberlain had passed away, as reported by publicist Harlan Boll. The actor unfortunately lost his life on Saturday, March 29th, at 11:15 PM Hawaiian time, in Waimanalo, Hawaii. This tragic event occurred due to complications following a stroke, according to Boll’s statement.

Martin Rabbett, longtime partner of Richard, released a statement saying, “Richard has ascended to be with the angels now. He’s no longer bound here, but soaring upwards to reunite with those who went before us. It was truly a privilege to have shared our lives with such an extraordinary and compassionate spirit. Love continues beyond life. Our love is cradling him as he embarks on his next incredible journey.

Paul Newman, renowned as an All-American matinee idol, occasionally faced obstacles in his acting career. However, he solidified his talent through exceptional performances in plays such as “Hamlet” and other Shakespearean productions, which were widely acclaimed. Despite this, a significant breakthrough in the world of cinema did not occur. He appeared in several notable films like “Petulia,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Music Lovers,” and Peter Weir’s “The Last Wave.” Nevertheless, his true strength lay in television roles where he portrayed diverse characters such as England’s Edward VIII, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, WWII hero Raoul Wallenberg, among others.

In the span of his years portraying Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain also experienced a short-lived stint as a recording artist, primarily focusing on romantic ballads. He additionally showcased his vocal talents on TV variety shows and on stage, with particular prominence during the 1993 Broadway revival of “My Fair Lady.

However, he is most famously known for his role as the ambitious Australian priest in the critically acclaimed television series based on Colleen McCullough’s popular romance novel “The Thorn Birds.

In 1980, the miniseries “Shogun,” based on James Clavell’s novel, served as a significant platform for Chamberlain, leading him to demand high fees for his television work up until the 1996 sequel to “The Thorn Birds” titled “The Missing Years.” Unfortunately, both critics and audiences found this production unsatisfying.

In the early 1960s, MGM signed a contract with the young actor Chamberlain, casting him as Dr. Kildare, a role previously played by Lew Ayres in a well-known film series. This one-hour medical drama, which also starred Raymond Massey, premiered in autumn 1961 and was an instant success, lasting until 1966.

Richard Chamberlain’s towering height, sharp appearance, and friendly demeanor quickly earned him widespread admiration. Leveraging his popularity, he ventured into a minor music career, releasing “Richard Chamberlain Sings” in 1962, followed by “The Theme From Dr. Kildare.” Additionally, he contributed to the soundtracks of “Twilight of Honor” and “Joy in the Morning,” two MGM soap operas where he was a leading actor during the early ’60s.

Right after “Dr. Kildare” wrapped up, I found myself at a crossroads. I delved back into my acting studies and snagged the lead in the Broadway musical drama “Holly Golightly,” adapted from Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Though we poured our hearts out off-stage, the production starring Mary Tyler Moore in the titular role unfortunately shut down before it even premiered. I gave other stage roles a shot in stock productions like “The Philadelphia Story” and “Private Lives,” but alas, they too didn’t see the light of day on opening night.

For a while, he relocated to England and furthered his education, eventually making his stage debut as Hamlet in 1970 at Birmingham Rep, receiving positive reviews; this marked the first American portrayal of the troubled Dane on British soil since John Barrymore four decades prior. Later, Chamberlain brought this performance to television. He also took on various theatrical roles like Richard II, Cyrano de Bergerac, Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana”, and Thomas Babe’s “Fathers and Sons”. These performances earned him Drama Desk nominations for the latter two. During the late 60s, he starred in a BBC adaptation of “The Portrait of a Lady” and under Richard Lester’s direction in the film classic “Petulia”, alongside Julie Christie and George C. Scott.

Additionally, in England, he took on the role of Tchaikovsky in Ken Russell’s passionate biographical movie “The Music Lovers.” In 1973, he was chosen to play Lord Byron in a critically panned feature film titled “Lady Caroline Lamb.” Subsequently, Lester selected him for the part of Aramis in “The Three Musketeers.” Later on, Chamberlain appeared in the films that followed as the sequels to this production.

In the mid-1970s, Peter Weir selected Chamberlain for his dreamlike and cataclysmic movie “The Last Wave.” Additionally, he was part of an illustrious ensemble cast in the disaster blockbuster “The Towering Inferno.” He also made appearances in the disaster movie “The Swarm” and the Cinderella story “The Slipper and the Rose.

Due to his lasting popularity among TV viewers, he landed the lead part in “The Woman I Love” (portraying King Edward VIII alongside Faye Dunaway as Wallis Simpson). This 1972 biographical drama, broadcast on ABC mere months after Edward’s demise, stirred such controversy that it was prohibited in the U.K. In the mid-’70s, Chamberlain starred in a series of hit TV movies: “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles” and “The Man in the Iron Mask,” earning his first Emmy nomination for “Monte Cristo.

As a movie critic in the late ’70s, I found myself captivated by an exceptional performance. In 1978, I witnessed this talented actor shine in a PBS adaptation of Neil Simon’s Chekhovian comedy “The Good Doctor.” Later that same year, he was one of the main leads in NBC’s grand miniseries “Centennial,” leaving a lasting impression on me and countless other viewers.

In 1980, the groundbreaking historical miniseries “Shogun,” aired on NBC, with Richard Chamberlain in the lead role, was one of the most popular shows in the network’s history. It won an Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series and earned another nomination for its star.

Following his triumph in “Shogun,” Richard Chamberlain landed leading roles in more substantial productions like “Cook and Peary: The Race to the Pole,” “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story” (which earned him another Emmy nod), “Night of the Hunter,” and “Casanova.” He also starred in a 1988 ABC miniseries adaptation of “The Bourne Identity,” playing Jason Bourne. However, none of these projects rivaled the success of the scandalous 1983 miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” where Chamberlain played a priest involved in an affair with a stunning woman. The controversy surrounding “The Thorn Birds” only added to its popularity, making it the second highest-rated miniseries after “Roots,” and Chamberlain received another Emmy nomination for his performance.

The miniseries provided a resurgence in Chamberlain’s acting career: He played roles in the remake of “King Solomon’s Mines” and its sequel “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.” However, he primarily focused on television work afterwards, appearing in prestigious projects like “The Lost Daughter,” “Ordeal of the Arctic,” “All the Winters That Have Been,” and the 1999 production “Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke” alongside Lauren Bacall. Unfortunately, he was also involved in the less successful 1996 sequel to “The Thorn Birds” titled “The Missing Years.

As a passionate theater enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of gracing numerous stages throughout my career. In 1987, I reprised my role on Broadway in Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” a delightful production that I was thrilled to be a part of. I also embarked on a tour as Henry Higgins for the classic musical “My Fair Lady” and found myself back on Broadway with that 1993 revival. In an exciting twist, I even stepped in as Captain Von Trapp during a Rialto revival of “The Sound of Music,” a role that later took us on a tour across the country. Fast forward to 2005, I donned the iconic role of Scrooge for the stage production “Scrooge: The Musical.” More recently, in 2008 and 2009, I had the honor of portraying King Arthur in the hilarious musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot.

In the late ’80s, he primarily resided in Hawaii, with occasional trips back to the mainland for work. Most of his time was spent there, where he also painted. He made a return to acting as a doctor in the short-lived series “Island Son,” which was produced in Hawaii and originated from his own idea, during the years 1989-90.

Throughout the 2000s, this actor made appearances on numerous television series such as “Touched by an Angel”, “The Drew Carey Show”, “Will and Grace”, “Nip/Tuck” and “Desperate Housewives”. He also held a recurring part in ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters”. Additionally, he took on supporting roles in various films during that time, with one example being “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

In 2017, Chamberlain made an appearance on “Twin Peaks” as Bill Kennedy. Later, in 2018, he starred as Dr. Leener in the horror movie “Nightmare Cinema.” In 2019, you could see him in “Finding Julia.” Additionally, he was part of a single scene in the drama “Echoes of the Past,” which was filmed in Patmos, Greece, with Max von Sydow.

Come springtime in 2012, I graced the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse, embodying Dr. Sloper in “The Heiress.” Later that summer, I found myself sharing the limelight with Brooke Shields in a live rendition of “The Exorcist” at the Geffen Playhouse. The following year, I returned to New York City for a revival of David Rabe’s 1971 play “Sticks and Bones,” performing Off Broadway. In the eyes of The New York Times, my brief stage appearance left an indelible impression. Ben Brantley, in his review, praised my ‘wonderfully unctuous performance.’

George Richard Chamberlain was born in Los Angeles on March 31, 1934. He studied at Beverly Hills High School and later Pomona College, where he earned a degree in art. After serving for two years in the Army, during which he was stationed in Korea in the mid-’50s, Chamberlain returned to Los Angeles and pursued acting. He made appearances on various TV shows such as “Bourbon Street,” “Mr. Lucky,” “Thriller,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “Gunsmoke.

In 1960, he had his initial appearance in a low-budget horror movie titled “Secret of the Purple Reef.” His breakthrough role was with MGM in “A Thunder of Drums,” marking his first major studio film. A classmate from high school introduced him to an MGM TV series called “The Paradise Kid,” for which he was auditioned. He secured the role, but unfortunately, the concept was dropped. However, this led to an MGM contract and his next big opportunity: “Dr. Kildare.

Chamberlain’s autobiography, “Shattered Love: A Memoir,” was published in 2003.

For several decades, he was in a long-term relationship with actor-writer-producer Rabbett, whom he worked alongside in “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.” However, it’s uncertain if they continued their relationship after Chamberlain moved back to Los Angeles in 2010. Boll, on the other hand, referred to Rabbett as Chamberlain’s “long-term partner and closest friend.

Funeral arrangements for Chamberlain haven’t been made public yet. Instead of sending flowers, contributions in his honor are preferred to either National Public Radio (NPR) or the Hawaiian Humane Society.

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2025-03-30 14:47